Cocaine Hydrochloride

This article is compiled based on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) – 2025 Edition
Issued and maintained by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP)
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C₁₇H₂₁NO₄ . HCI       339.81

8-Azabicyclo[3.2.1] octane-2-carboxylic acid, 3-(benzoyloxy)-8-methyl-, methyl ester, hydrochloride, 1R-(exo,exo)-.

Methyl 3ẞ-hydroxy-1ан, 5ан-tropan-2ẞ-carboxylate, benzoate (ester) hydrochloride CAS RN®: 53-21-4; UNII: XH8T8T6WZH.

Cocaine Hydrochloride contains not less than 99.0 percent and not more than 101.0 percent of C₁₇H₂₁NO₄ . HCI, calculated on the dried basis.

1 Packaging and storage-Preserve in well-closed, light-resistant containers.

1.1 USP REFERENCE STANDARDS (11)-

USP Cocaine Hydrochloride RS

Identification-

A: It meets the requirements under Identification-Organic Nitrogenous Bases (181), sodium carbonate TS being used in place of 1 N sodium hydroxide.

B: To 5 mL of a solution (1 in 50) add 5 drops of chromium trioxide solution (1 in 20): a yellow precipitate is formed, and it quickly redissolves when the mixture is shaken gently. Add 1 mL of hydrochloric acid: a permanent, orange-colored crystalline precipitate is formed.

C: To a solution of about 10 mg in 2 drops of water add 1 mL of 0.1 N potassium permanganate: a violet, crystalline precipitate is formed, and it appears brownish violet when collected on a filter, and shows characteristic, violet-red crystalline aggregates under the low power of a microscope.

D: It responds to the tests for Chloride (191).

1.2 SPECIFIC ROTATION (781S): between -71° and-73°.

Test solution: 20 mg, previously dried, per mL, in water.

2 Acidity

Dissolve 500 mg in 10 mL of water, add 1 drop of methyl red TS, and titrate with 0.020 N sodium hydroxide: not more than 0.50 mL is required to produce a yellow color.

2.1 LOSS ON DRYING (731)

Dry it over silica gel for 3 hours: it loses not more than 1.0% of its weight.

2.2 RESIDUE ON IGNITION (281)

Not more than 0.1%.

2.3 READILY CARBONIZABLE SUBSTANCES (271)

Dissolve 500 mg in 5 mL of sulfuric acid: the solution has no more color than Matching Fluid F.

3 Limit of cinnamyl-cocaine and other reducing substances

To 5 mL of a solution (1 in 50) add 0.3 mL of 1 N sulfuric acid and 0.10 mL of 0.10 N potassium permanganate: the violet color does not disappear entirely within 30 minutes.

4 Limit of isoatropyl-cocaine

Dilute 5 mL of a solution (1 in 50) in a beaker with 80 mL of water, add 0.2 mL of 6 N ammonium hydroxide, stir the solution vigorously during 5 minutes, occasionally rubbing the inner wall of the beaker with a stirring rod: a crystalline precipitate of cocaine is formed, and the supernatant is clear.

5 Assay

Dissolve about 500 mg of Cocaine Hydrochloride, accurately weighed, in a mixture of 40 mL of glacial acetic acid and 10 mL of mercuric acetate TS. Add 2 drops of quinaldine red TS, and titrate with 0.1 N perchloric acid VS. Perform a blank determination, and make any necessary correction. Each mL of 0.1 N perchloric acid is equivalent to 33.98 mg of C₁₇H₂₁NO₄ . HCI